I think it can be a stretch to try to import trump card meanings directly to the minor cards. Their connection is primarily numerological. The number Six is a number of balance and harmony. But the Lovers is associated with Air (Gemini) and the 6 of Cups with Water (Sun in Scorpio). The kids (I don't see a dwarf, necessarily) in the latter card don't look like they have a Scorpionic thought in their heads. There is too much sweetness there, while the couple in the Lovers seem more conflicted. The Lovers can mean a parting of the ways as readily as a liaison (the Hebrew letter for the card means "sword" and the concept can have a dual association: to cleave to something means to "adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly," while to cleave something means to "divide by or as if by a cutting blow"), while the 6 of Cups seems more about the pleasure of the moment.

I think it can be a stretch to try to import trump card meanings directly to the minor cards. Their connection is primarily numerological. The number Six is a number of balance and harmony. But the Lovers is associated with Air (Gemini) and the 6 of Cups with Water (Sun in Scorpio). The kids (I don't see a dwarf, necessarily) in the latter card don't look like they have a Scorpionic thought in their heads. There is too much sweetness there, while the couple in the Lovers seem more conflicted. The Lovers can mean a parting of the ways as readily as a liaison (the Hebrew letter for the card means "sword" and the concept can have a dual association: to cleave to something means to "adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly," while to cleave something means to "divide by or as if by a cutting blow"), while the 6 of Cups seems more about the pleasure of the moment.

Hi Barleywine, thank you for this explanation. I was joking a bit about the dwarf like resemblance. But to me he looks sort of menacing and not so innocent. He is much bigger than she.

I can understand it being a stretch to associate trump cards with minors when the minors look like Tarot de Marseilles. But cards which are full of symbolism? I'm a novice and my history is lacking. I trust your expertise. Though I have questions.

I honestly don't know how the authors of Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot can keep selling books. Most of their theories are the most laughable I've heard. Nothing against them personally, just saying their ideas show a lack of real research and border on silliness. My opinion of course.

I have always seen him as an adult walking away from Childish pursuits. In his hand is a staff---a symbol of power. I like to think he is the guy in the 8 of cups--walking away from what he CAN'T finish and up the mountain (Ascending) of enlightenment.
barb

I honestly don't know how the authors of Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot can keep selling books. Most of their theories are the most laughable I've heard. Nothing against them personally, just saying their ideas show a lack of real research and border on silliness. My opinion of course.

I looked up the URL Rallwedd furnished and I agree with you Abrac! The web site has 10 cards and their explication and I see it is very thin and pretty silly. I am getting it from the library, I will see for myself.

The Aeclectic Tarot Forum closed permanently on July 14th, 2017. The public threads remain online as a read-only archive and resource. More information on our decision can be found here. Thank you for being a part of our active community over the past seventeen years.